I just came back from a Catholic funeral. What struck me the most about the mass and the final eulogy was that the priest and Catholics asked for the prayers of Saints and Mary in begging Jesus to let the guy who died into his kingdom. The entire service was like this - it seemed like they did not have faith in Jesus' words and sacrifice which was confirmed when the priest turned the wafer into Jesus and offered Jesus to God as a sacrifice to cleanse the sole of the guy who died. It was really strange and the people were crying a lot. I didn't feel bad at all though for his death, only sorrow for his family, because how can you feel bad for someone who has died when he is already saved through Jesus' death? Well I'm wondering if I'm being too judgemental of the others there (including my own family) but I think that it does reflect a lack of faith in Jesus as well as the attachment we have towards our loved ones who die over Jesus! When have you seen someone crying over Jesus' death as much as they have for someone close to them? I've never seen people mourn for him in the same way they do at funeral services. This is just an off-tangent point however, because if we really believe in Jesus' message we shouldn't mourn for his death or anyone elses because Jesus died to save us while others are already saved and don't need our prayers and tears.
Should we be sad at funerals?
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wow, i was just recently meditating on this very thing....
it's tragic that death is so little understood...i used to be inexplicably terrified of death...it's the UNKNOWN of it...
But now, i KNOW Him Who i am IN. Death is just a stepping stone towards seeing Him face to face, and seeing my Abba SINGING and rejoicing over me..
When i die, i want a celebration. It may sound weird, but i will NOT be in that ground. I want a light dusty-rose-colored heart shaped grave stone, with balloons attached, dancin in da' wind.....and doves released. I want laughter and joy and dancing hearts and spirits. I want a celebration of "life".
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The scripture that comes to mind on this subject, to me at least, is Romans 12:15.
Romans 12:15 NIV
15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
So if people are sad and in mourning, mourn with them. It's rather awkward to be the only cheerful guy at a funeral. Unless of course, you can tell them WHY you're cheerful, but that's another topic in of itself.
Romans 12:15 NIV
15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
So if people are sad and in mourning, mourn with them. It's rather awkward to be the only cheerful guy at a funeral. Unless of course, you can tell them WHY you're cheerful, but that's another topic in of itself.
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stelow
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When someone we love dies, it's completely natural to show emotion and cry.
John 11:28-37
28 And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, “The Teacher has come and is calling for you.” 29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha met Him. 31 Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.” 32 Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
33 Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. 34 And He said, “Where have you laid him?”
They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”
35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”
37 And some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?”
John 11:28-37
28 And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, “The Teacher has come and is calling for you.” 29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha met Him. 31 Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.” 32 Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
33 Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. 34 And He said, “Where have you laid him?”
They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”
35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”
37 And some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?”
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But could Jesus have cried because he knew this guy wasn't saved without Jesus' death?
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stelow
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That's it Jesus probably didn't even know, that He was getting ready to raise Lazarus from the dead. Really, if your serious, you would have to be so calloused not to cry for a love one, that has died. I should have know better to comment on this thread, sometimes I'm an idiot.
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Exactly! The Bible teaches us about the promises after death through Jesus yet me continue to deny him and fear death! I hope for a world where we no longer care for our own deaths as being sources of despair because we will have so much faith in Jesus' promise that dying would be celebrated as you want for your own funeral 
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Exactly! The Bible teaches us about the promises after death through Jesus yet me continue to deny him and fear death! I hope for a world where we no longer care for our own deaths as being sources of despair because we will have so much faith in Jesus' promise that dying would be celebrated as you want for your own funeral
Losing loved ones can be quite distressing, but as long as they know Jesus as their Saviour we don't need to worry about their eternal futures. It's just hard sometimes to adjust to not having a loved one here anymore...
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You're right - it WAS awkward because I was able to smile when I talked to his family members - but I kept thinking Jesus' promise for us that I couldn't feel sad for him (a close family friend). But when I saw how sad his family was, I did feel remorse for their suffering but not because of their loss (and this may sound callous) but because they had so little faith in Jesus! Before when I was myself Catholic I was always in tears at funerals because the Catholic church makes it seems like no one can be saved unless they are perfect Catholics - once I became Atheist I was indifferent - and today, as a born-again Christian I was filled with joy in the promise of Salvation through faith .
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You're right - it WAS awkward because I was able to smile when I talked to his family members - but I kept thinking Jesus' promise for us that I couldn't feel sad for him (a close family friend). But when I saw how sad his family was, I did feel remorse for their suffering but not because of their loss (and this may sound callous) but because they had so little faith in Jesus! Before when I was myself Catholic I was always in tears at funerals because the Catholic church makes it seems like no one can be saved unless they are perfect Catholics - once I became Atheist I was indifferent - and today, as a born-again Christian I was filled with joy in the promise of Salvation through faith
The good news is that Jesus loves all His children, regardless of which denomination they belong to.
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Sorry if it seems like I'm baiting people - but I'm not! I'm just filled with the happiness of being born-again in Jesus. His message of Salvation was primarily addressed to the question of death, so I just had to be happy knowing that death means nothing if you have faith in Christ . I disagree with you that it's callousness though - I think that mourning does reflect that we are still not at the point where we really have faith in Jesus' promise of salvation and are still attached to others above Jesus when God should be our greatest love. This might sound even more callous - but when have you seen someone cry for Jesus' sacrifice as they do for their loved ones?
. I disagree with you that it's callousness though - I think that mourning does reflect that we are still not at the point where we really have faith in Jesus' promise of salvation and are still attached to others above Jesus when God should be our greatest love. This might sound even more callous - but when have you seen someone cry for Jesus' sacrifice as they do for their loved ones?That's it Jesus probably didn't even know, that He was getting ready to raise Lazarus from the dead. Really, if your serious, you would have to be so calloused not to cry for a love one, that has died. I should have know better to comment on this thread, sometimes I'm an idiot.
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That is true - it's more of adjusting to their absence that causes the suffering. What is different about the Catholic service though was that they were emphasizing that we needed to pray for the deceased to the Saints and Mary to ask them to ask Jesus to let them into the Kingdom of God. It seemed like they really didn't believe in Jesus' promise and are really afraid that they are going to hell for their ssins.
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Sorry if it seems like I'm baiting people - but I'm not! I'm just filled with the happiness of being born-again in Jesus. His message of Salvation was primarily addressed to the question of death, so I just had to be happy knowing that death means nothing if you have faith in Christ
Well, I must say I sobbed like a little child when my dad passed away. I just couldn't help. But, now years later, I know I'll see him again one day - and that will be a joyous celebration. People can't really help mourning over loved ones, but it is always a consolation if they knew Jesus as their Saviour.
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Yes that's true but like I mentioned above, it seemed like the Catholics had little faith in the way they begged for Salvation - I mean the whole idea of purgatory was created to satisfy peoples' insecurities about Jesus' promise! During the prayer service and eulogy they kept repeating that my friend's soul was in purgatory and that he needed our prayers and the prayers of Mary and the Saints to be saved....
The good news is that Jesus loves all His children, regardless of which denomination they belong to.
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I admit - I would probably cry also if my parent died. But the more I read the Bible and the more I pray, that fear is starting to dissipate. Personally, I think about my own death a lot but it doesn't bother me anymore since I found Jesus. I know that his plan is the best for us and that I am saved despite my sins so worrying about and fearing it is almost gone for me now. It's just so wonderful to see and feel him everywhere in your life!
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I understand you feel frustrated. The thing is just that one wouldn't want to cause a Protestant / Catholic debate in the thread. It could lead to someone getting upset. You are welcome to PM me if you'd like to talk about this, what upset you and so on. My mailbox is wide open.
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That's it Jesus probably didn't even know, that He was getting ready to raise Lazarus from the dead. Really, if your serious, you would have to be so calloused not to cry for a love one, that has died. I should have know better to comment on this thread, sometimes I'm an idiot.
my dear friend, i can soooo relate to the sorrow and excruciating pain of loss through death....i was sorta thinkin out loud with my original post....it's just something that God, our Abba, has helped me work through...my oppressively own fear of death....
of course we weep and are in excruciating sorrow when a loved one dies, dear heart...
maybe what i was postin is permission, ahead of time, for my family to "celebrate" my "being with Abba".....
((((hug))))
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The only time I really feel sad is when I know the person wasn't a believer. Our time to take Christ as saver is in this life so we can be his servant in obedience and love, doing his will.
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